HOUSTON, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell today announces a successful appraisal operation at its Appomattox discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The appraisal well in Mississippi Canyon block 348, in approximately 7,257 feet of water, was drilled to a total depth of 25,851 feet and encountered approximately 150 feet of oil pay.

Today's announcement builds on Shell's initial success at the Appomattox discovery well in Mississippi Canyon Block 392, completed in early 2010. "We are pleased with the continued success at our Appomattox prospect, and this well supports our continuing appraisal efforts to progress this to a new hub class development," said David Lawrence, Executive Vice President Exploration and Commercial.

Shell (80% WI and operator) and Nexen (20% WI) will continue to appraise Appomattox in 2012 with an appraisal well in the southwest fault block and a sidetrack appraisal into the northwest fault block to further delineate the hydrocarbon accumulation. Further Appomattox and Vicksburg appraisals, if warranted, may extend into early 2013.

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